It’s been called a seaside paradise by some, the gem of the California coast by others. But no matter what you call it, there is no denying that Santa Barbara is a town like no other.
Nestled between the ocean and the mountains, the Santa Barbara marketplace offers the diversity of a large city while maintaining a small town feel. It beckons visitors from near and far and it is pretty much guaranteed that whether you stay one day or a lifetime, you’ll never forget what you experience in this southern California haven.
The restaurants of Santa Barbara give diners a mix of authentic world and California cuisine. The international dining options are endless and the town’s seafood selection has been highly praised. From the popular Brophy Brothers to the Harbor Restaurant on the Santa Barbara Wharf, the town’s seaside flair is reflected in every dish. Wine country inspired dishes can be found at fine dining choices such as the elegant Bouchan and with the Santa Ynez Valley just over the mountain, local chefs often create entrées with a particular wine in mind, offering diners a well-rounded taste of the region.
A special night out is easy to plan with so many extraordinary restaurants to kick off the evening. A local favorite, The Palace Grill serves up authentic Cajun cuisine in a Louisiana-inspired atmosphere and Holdren’s Steakhouse is packed with locals any given night of the week. For the best authentic food in town, turn to one of the excellent Mexican restaurants. The popular Los Arroyos recently celebrated their ten year anniversary in Santa Barbara, while the Rose Café has been in business since 1947.
The distinct local flavor doesn’t stop at the town’s restaurants. The lower blocks of State Street come alive at night with bars and pubs opening their doors to allow locals and visitors to dance, drink, and enjoy live entertainment. Bar hopping is easy with everything centrally located in the heart of downtown. Trendy nightclubs are set side-by-side with more unassuming hot spots, giving those out on the town a bevy of options.
The three-story Q’s is popular among twenty-somethings, while the authentic Irish pub Dargan’s has become a well-known local stomping ground. The retro Wildcat Lounge is the town’s most popular dance club and Joe’s Café has a reputation of the strongest drinks in town. Upscale lounges such as Indochine and Epiphany are of the more sophisticated variety, yet casual and down-to-earth nonetheless.
While State Street is known by night for its mix of nightclubs and bars, during the daylight hours, the downtown area is better known as a shopping mecca. A mix of local boutiques and trendy shops, the fashion center is constantly evolving making the shopping scene in Santa Barbara always current. Big-name stores fit right in with smaller local merchants who add an overall charm to the shopping experience. Shoppers can wander down the cobblestone walkways of Paseo Nuevo, an airy outdoor mall situated in the center of town, or meander down the palm-lined State Street, window shopping or browsing through up-scale clothing lines, hand-crafted items, and home furnishings. The mall and surrounding streets are easily navigable on foot and pedestrians are sure to enjoy the beauty of the area as much as the shopping selection.
Surrounding by romantic scenery, Santa Barbara is often one of the first places couples think of as they search for a place to tie the knot. Outdoor ceremonies can take place on the beach, in the mountains, up in wine country, or at one of the town’s many parks. Hotels, such as the sprawling ocean-front resort of the Doubletree Inn, offer luxurious setting for receptions and the downtown Canary Hotel hosts rooftop ceremonies overlooking the city. The wedding industry in Santa Barbara is also thriving with ample photographers, caterers, flower shops, bakeries, and entertainment to fit every taste and style.
It’s no surprise that with so much to offer, Santa Barbara boasts over 90,000 residents, and continues to grow rapidly each year thanks in part to the multitude of housing options in the town. The famous hillside homes of Montecito and the secluded retreats of Hope Ranch lure home-buyers from around the world with their breathtaking ocean vistas and access to all things Santa Barbara. Communities of homes have developed within the town in areas such as the Mesa and San Roque where houses give families access to parks and shopping, beaches and hiking trails, without ever loosing their privacy. Yet for those who desire to be in the center of the action, downtown studios and apartments give city lovers excellent proximity to all the happenings of the town. The rental opportunities are many and with each neighborhood comes even more possibilities for buyers and renters to find their niche.
It’s hard to know where to begin, but the best way to get started in Santa Barbara is to dive right in. All you have to do is spend one day immersing yourself in this impressive seaside town and you’ll understand why everyone wants their own little piece of Santa Barbara paradise. Life is good on the American Riviera.